Sony CCDTRV66 Handycam Hi8 Camcorder

This camera is the 2nd best Hi8 camera from Sony. Its simplistic to use and has some cool features and effects. The picture quality and sterio sound are superb for play back on TV and PC. The 80x zoom is alsi very powerful. The photo-still facility is weak but thats to be expected on Camcorders. However the brilliant nightshot and built in lamp make for a good Blair Witch Project if you ever fancy that. I have used it for about 2 months now and haven't really used needed to use the effects but the picture quality and sound make this a top camera (I can hardly notice the difference from my brothers digital camera). Make sure you get another battery as with the LCD on it lasts about 90 mins and uses good quality hi 8 tapes to get the best out of it. You wont be dissopointed.

I've been using this camcorder for nearly two years. Bought it new in late 1999.

A year later, I noticed that the battery that it came with discharged if left in the camcorder, even if the camera is in the OFF position. I thought it was a battery problem & bought a new one, but same story.

As a camera, the picture is very good. No complaints on the audio pick-up either. Simple & easy connectivity to the TV for viewing or mastering to tape.

Latest problem is that in the OFF position, all the lights come on, & the battery doesn't charge. In the CAMERA position, the VTR lights come on.

I believe the problem lies with the CAMERA-OFF-VTR slider switch in the front, which seems to have been discontinued in later models. A friend with a similar SONY camcorder, using the same switch reported the exact same problems, as did one other user on some e-board.

Bottom line, not recommended as the slider switch seems to be problematic.

Buy Sony CCDTRV66 Handycam Hi8 Camcorder Now

In 1992, I bought a Sony CCD FX-510 8mm stereo camcorder. By February 2000, we had worn the old camera out, after working around the world! If you want to keep playing 8mm tapes, you either have to replace your 8mm camcorder, or buy a 8mm deck. The camcorders are cheaper than a deck! I bought the Sony CCD-TRV66 because it could play my stereo 8mm tapes from my old camera. A digital Sony camcorder would do this, but at more $. The best surprise was that playback on the new HI-8 camcorder seemed to deliver higher resolution on the old Video 8 tapes. This might be due to the filtering on the Hi-8 camcorder. The TRV-66 has image stabilization, nightshot, Hi-8 resolution, stereo sound, lots of digital features and a color flip out screen. All of this is still less than I paid in 1992 for the CCD FX-510. After 8 years, Sony kept continuity on operational features; the basic functions of their camcorders is the same. Kudos for great design. I plan to wear out this camera, too!

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I love this camcorder. Why? It's easy to use, has excellent picture and sound quality, isn't bulky (even though it's much bigger than the stuff they have out now), and has a lot of features. Yes, to use this camcorder today entails using cassettes as opposed to built-in disc drives, but you wouldn't know the difference in overall quality. Furthermore, it's all too easy to just burn your cassette footage onto DVD anyway. I particularly like the fading feature, as well as all of the goodies such as sepia, black and white, pastel, overlap, bounce, stripe, wipe, solar, slim, wide, etc. Oh, and there's nightshot as well. I'd put my money on this camcorder being superior to many modern-day camcorders. Some of the newer camcorders haven't been perfected, and suffer in such areas as tint, for instance. Finally, the steadyshot feature on this model is truly remarkable, and will prevent poor cameramen from ruining your video if the camcorder should happen to get into their hands. I've had this camcorder for 12 years now, and love it. Sony is a great manufacturer of camcorders.

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Had this camera for a couple years now and have never had a problem. Can't ask for any more features. The battery still holds a charge for over 4hrs of use. The image quality is great and the audio pickup(stereo) works fabulously. Only complaint would be the Camera/off/VTR switch, but not for the same reason as the others listed. I just don't like the location of it and it can be a little bit of a hassle getting it to the off position. But I've never had a problem with it not turning the camera off or the light on.

Botton line: Easy, simple to use and connect to a TV or to a computer for emailing video (with the right computer hardware).